“Is my wife in danger, Grandmother? Her brothers alluded to the fact that Huxley had unfinished business where she was concerned.”
The older woman nodded her head. “Huxley was there when I visited the Winchcombs for the last time a few years ago.”
“You visited my wife’s family? Why?” Daniel shook his head, confused.
“I visited the Winchcombs to see what sort of family they were and look over the girl. She was only a baby the first time but I wanted to make sure the future Duchess of Stratton did not have a squint or clubbed feet.”
Daniel remained silent; interrupting would get him nothing but a lecture.
“The little girl was pretty. She gurgled and smiled and I was most pleased. Her father was an idiot and tried to kiss me.”
“I beg your pardon!” Surely Daniel hadn’t heard that right.
“I, of course, unmanned him instantly, by, well, you understand.”
Daniel couldn’t help smiling as his grandmother glared at him. He could well imagine what she had done to Winchcomb.
“I am pleased you were able to protect yourself, Grandmother,” he said solemnly.
Thompson arrived then with tea, and Daniel knew better than to ask his grandmother to continue while a servant was in the room so he ground his teeth and waited. The elderly woman nodded for the butler to leave, then proceeded with the long drawn-out ritual that was needed to prepare a good cup of tea. He watched as she turned the teapot four times to the left, then four times to the right, counted for twenty seconds, then repeated the procedure. Usually Daniel found this quaint little ritual quite endearing. Today, however, he would cheerfully have reached across the table, grabbed the bloody teapot and hurled it across the room, but again, he knew better than to hurry her along. One did not hurry his grandmother, so outwardly calm he sat and waited.
“My second visit was, as I said, only a few years ago,” she continued after she had taken a small sip of tea. “I had wanted to check on the girl again, make sure that the tutor I had sent to school her was doing his job and that she was up to the mark. We could not have the new Duchess of Stratton appearing to countrified.”
“And you did not think at this stage that I should have been informed of my impending doom.” Daniel’s tone was terse.
Snorting, she reached for her tea and took a long swallow. “You would have run for the hills or gone into the army, had I informed you.”
She had a point there but he was too angry to acknowledge it.
“Your wife was a small, mousy thing, but for all that she seemed to have pleasing manners and as she had no idea of your contract either, I did not enlighten her. Her father told her that I was a long-lost relative who had come to see the family and that I was the one responsible for the tutor. The girl didn’t question me, yet I could see confusion in her eyes.”
“You hardly look like a benevolent benefactress, Grandmother.”
“It was the only thing that seemed plausible without alerting the girl to the contract between our families, and I will ask you to mind your tone, Grandson.”
“Huxley, Grandmother,” Daniel said, steering the conversation back to what he needed to know.
“Huxley was at the house when I arrived. He appeared familiar with the family and most especially the girl. I, of course, knew who he was as I was unfortunate enough to know his father.”
Daniel watched his grandmother take another mouthful of tea before continuing with her story. Why did he have this feeling of unease inside him?
“At least the youngest two Winchcomb children do not share the elder brothers’ looks. Different mother, from what I gather,” the Dowager Duchess added.
“What happened to her, their mother?”
“Died in childbirth, so Winchcomb told me.”
“Tell me of Huxley, Grandmother.”
“I was invited to dine that night. I was staying at the nearest inn and knowing what Winchcomb was capable of, I had two servants accompany me at all times.” Seeing her nephew’s raised eyebrow, she snapped at him. “I may appear old to you, my boy, but to some, I am still a very attractive woman.”
“I have no doubts as to that, but still you digress,” Daniel said, barely restraining the urge to yell at her.
“The girl,” she said glaring at him, “appeared to be the servant for the night. Her brothers and father ordered her hither and yon, and Huxley touched her intimately on several occasions. She was red-faced with rage by the time dessert arrived and she dumped an entire bowl of very bland apple pudding on Huxley’s head. I, of course, applauded and held out great hope that she would indeed one day be able to fulfill the role as Duchess of Stratton.”
“Are you saying her family just sat there and allowed this man to touch and abuse her in your presence and did little to assist her?”
“Indeed, I was quite disgusted and when I took my leave later that night and found Huxley in the hall trying to kiss the girl. I instantly set my footman upon him, then told Winchcomb senior that if I found out this reprobate had touched the future Duchess of Stratton again, there would be hell to pay.”
